Just before the Enlightenment religion was the dominant political pressure across Europe. The Catholic Chapel wielded tremendous spiritual authority throughout the...

Sponsors

Enlightenment ideas capitalism

Sir Richard Branson and enlightened capitalism

There's not a lot of businessmen who're big names all over the world. One that certainly captures the imagination is Mister Richard Branson. The British founder and chairman from the Virgin Group flies hot-air balloons, sails the Atlantic in fast yachts and usually indulges within the type of harmful adventures that may make investors nervous (that is possibly why the Virgin holding clients are independently held…) but give style towards the brand. We thought it might be smart to request Mister Richard for his outlook during 2011. This really is his appeal for any year of enlightened business:

Within the last half a century, $2.3 trillion was allocated to foreign aid, yet we still haven't handled to construct a more proper world: in '09 Wall Street bonuses capped $20 billion—more compared to annual GDP in 64 countries—while half the earth battled on under $ 2 each day.
This inequality is placed to worsen once we still deplete the earth's natural assets. Once we debate a realistic look at global warming, we're missing the problem that's affecting our world. Indeed, there's no scientific debate—every single our natural environments is within decline.
Our best way out would be to turn business itself right into a good cause. Here are a few tips on how.

Alter the rules of the overall gameYesterday (and in the center of a hurricane – but that is another story) I spent a while with Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the frozen treats people. Once they began, these were so afraid to become “business people”, they deliberately did everything opposite to normalcy. They handed possession of the business for their employees. They handed it for their neighborhood. They used their profits to produce jobs through their logistics. They ploughed their cash into community projects. They used their voices to shout about issues. These were incredibly effective.
Doing good pays. Involved employees continue to work harder. Involved customers tend to be more loyal. Equitable supply chains tend to be more stable.
Interface Carpets is aware of this. In 1994 it set to do good past the balance sheet in everything it did. Wal-Mart is aware of this. Its recent efforts to create everybody best from what it really does are earning a positive change and therefore are saving them money. At Virgin there exists a lengthy approach to take, but we're also doing good to create an optimistic effect on people and also the planet.
Another economy is emerging that puts the main focus back on people and also the planet, not only pure profits. To ensure that this new economy to thrive, government authorities will have to create new incentives and also the financial sector will have to direct more capital towards companies which are driving change.